Need help, with Pleco keeps dying.

[Eric1115]

Levamisole HCL can be done at the same time as PraziPro. I've done it with bichirs and lungfish. It's only a 2ppm dosing (roughly 0.1g per gallon) for 24 hours with a blackout of the tank. Re-dose 2-3 weeks later with levamisole HCL

Thanks, will do that then, when blackout of the tank, is some ambient light going to affect the effect?

 

[Eric1115]

Hi, as the others have intimated, you have a mix of plecs there in the 55 with a real mix of requirements. I would suggest too many too, some of which really would not get on, ok this gets worse the larger they get but even small ones will start to divide territory.
The L134 can be really territorial. The L190, 191 and 027 will squabble as they are all the same. The food you are feeding is in my opinion not suitable for many of the plecs you have in there.
L104, L397, L190, L191, L027 all want a wood diet with veg like sprouts so that means plenty of wood they can feed on. Better with wood they can bite through like bog wood and not the harder mopani wood types.
The L201, L129, L134 all want a meaty diet, so shrimp, fish, mussels etc. Which the bristlenose will also rellish.

In the 75 you have a number of similar looking plecs which could mean disputes. Some fairly territorial plecs along with some real softies (L075, L200).
Note that you are also keeping high temp slow water plecs with lower temperature faster water plecs.

In general I think you need to look at a set up 55 or 75 for each kind/ habitat and thin them out somewhat. Plecs all have similar shapes but many different requirements and they don't do well overstocked without the habitat they prefer, which is not necessarily caves.
Get that sorted and I would expect better results.

Ok thanks, so basically separate tank for plecos that are meat eater and pleco that are more veggies. Will looks at the temp and water flow requirements. Didn’t notice that much of difference when I research them on PlanetCatfish. I was told it’s only to house them together when small especially QT. So how do you QT pleco if you are getting multiple? Separate tanks for all types? I don’t mean permanent home, only QT.

Thanks and appreciate the help.

 

[Fishman Dave]

For quarantine I would not be over concerned about separating the meat from the wood etc. But need to ensure feeding requirements and other needs are met. Fast cooler water fish together, slow hotter water fish together separately.
BUT......... in much fewer numbers. Quarantine is the place your checking for issues so stocking needs to be lower. It’s somewhere the fish will spend a couple of weeks, maybe a month before being moved into its real home.
If you buy 10 different plecs together and put them all into one quarantine tank your chances are that if one of them has an issue, it passes it to the other 9 putting them all at risk.
Plan to buy the types, so maybe the 4 L397. Quarantine for two weeks. Make sure no issues then move to permanent home. Buy a couple more and quarantine them. Going through same process gradually stocking your permanent tanks.
What you have done really is not quarantine them, but put them in a short term home all together where their individual needs can’t be met from day 1.
Quarantine = isolation

 

[Eric1115]

For quarantine I would not be over concerned about separating the meat from the wood etc. But need to ensure feeding requirements and other needs are met. Fast cooler water fish together, slow hotter water fish together separately.
BUT......... in much fewer numbers. Quarantine is the place your checking for issues so stocking needs to be lower. It’s somewhere the fish will spend a couple of weeks, maybe a month before being moved into its real home.
If you buy 10 different plecs together and put them all into one quarantine tank your chances are that if one of them has an issue, it passes it to the other 9 putting them all at risk.
Plan to buy the types, so maybe the 4 L397. Quarantine for two weeks. Make sure no issues then move to permanent home. Buy a couple more and quarantine them. Going through same process gradually stocking your permanent tanks.
What you have done really is not quarantine them, but put them in a short term home all together where their individual needs can’t be met from day 1.
Quarantine = isolation

Got it, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you! I am rushing and trying to get all QT to save time and in this hobby rushing is never good. I should have learned that from my other fish. For some reason I was thinking Pleco is different. I was told Pleco are peaceful, Hardy and easy. I am finding to to be the opposite. Again thank you!

 

[Rocksor]

Thanks, will do that then, when blackout of the tank, is some ambient light going to affect the effect?

Depends on the ambient light. It's a small percentage, but we want it working at 100%. It's commonly stored in a container to prevent light penetration.

 

[Eric1115]

Levamisole HCL can be done at the same time as PraziPro. I've done it with bichirs and lungfish. It's only a 2ppm dosing (roughly 0.1g per gallon) for 24 hours with a blackout of the tank. Re-dose 2-3 weeks later with levamisole HCL

I also see this which I think is white poop. Would Levamisole take care of it or I also need to feed metro? Is General Cure of?

 

[Rocksor]

Metro would be needed and best done in food gel like Repashy

 

[Raka]

Got it, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you! I am rushing and trying to get all QT to save time and in this hobby rushing is never good. I should have learned that from my other fish. For some reason I was thinking Pleco is different. I was told Pleco are peaceful, Hardy and easy. I am finding to to be the opposite. Again thank you!

This is the hobby that has taught me patience.

Depends on the plecos. I have found that once acclimated and comfortable most the species I have kept were quite hardy. However they seem to stress very easy during shipping-acclimation thats where I had most my losses.

Diet specific tanks are the way to go! It will make your life so much easier in the long run.

 

[Eric1115]

This is the hobby that has taught me patience.

Depends on the plecos. I have found that once acclimated and comfortable most the species I have kept were quite hardy. However they seem to stress very easy during shipping-acclimation thats where I had most my losses.

Diet specific tanks are the way to go! It will make your life so much easier in the long run.

Thanks, what type of plecos can Gibbeceps kept together with?

 

[Raka]

He's been doing well with my bristlenose and clowns for a couple years now.

They have similar diets, more veggie based with a very occasional protein treat, and similar temps, about 78.